Remotely controlled toy vehicle



March 1, 1966 F. w. BLANCHARD REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY VEHICLE Filed Feb.13, 1964 INVENTOR. f70/4D W 5074 1/76 United States Patent 3,237,343REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOY VEHICLE Floyd W. Blanchard, 2334 Loma VistaPlace, Los Angeles, Calif. 90039 Filed Feb. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 344,636 9Claims. (CI. 4695) This invention relates to a toy vehicle, and moreparticularly to a remotely controlled toy vehicle.

While remotely controlled toy vehicles are presently available, some ofthem have the disadvantages that they have a comparatively high firstcost, are rather complicated and diflicult to operate and maintain, andare somewhat limited in their range of operation.

In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic ofremotely controlled toy vehicles, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved toy vehicle not subject to thedisadvantages enumerated above and having inexpensive remotelycontrolled means especially designed for propelling and steering a toyvehicle efliciently, safely and expeditiously.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remotelycontrolled toy amphibious vehicle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toyvehicle which is controlled and propelled by hydraulic pressure means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensivetoy vehicle adapted to be connected to a conventional garden hose tosupply water under pressure thereto which propels and steers thevehicle.

In accordance with the present invention, a toy vehicle is provided inthe form of a small racing car or the like which has a body portion witha water-tight bottom wall so that the vehicle is adapted to float in abody of water. The vehicle includes a fixed rear axle on which rearwheels are rotatably mounted.

The front wheels of the vehicle are rotatably mounted on a bolster whichis pivotally connected intermediate the wheels to the 'front of thevehicle. A nozzle is affixed to the bolster adjacent each wheel. Thenozzles are directed rearwardly and downwardly and are connected by aflexible conduit to a source of water under pressure. When the nozzlesare subjected to an equal pressure, the vehicle will be propelledforwardly due to water jets issuing from the nozzles. A valve isconnected to each flexible conduit so that the flow of water to aparticular nozzle can be interrupted at the will of the operator of thevehicle. When the flow of water is interrupted to one of the nozzleswhile water under pressure continues to issue from the other nozzle, alever arm is created between the pressurized nozzle and the pivot pointfor the bolster creating the necessary moment to swing the bolster aboutthe pivot point and turn the front wheels of the vehicle.

The water jets will also propel the vehicle through a body of water andthe course of the vehicle in the water may be controlled by manipulatingthe valves.

In a modification of the toy vehicle, expanding pressure chambers areprovided as boosters to increase the turning force on the bolster,particularly at slow speeds or when the vehicle is stationary.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to likeelements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view, on a reduced scale, of the vehicleof FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view, on a reduced scale and with parts broken awayto show internal construction, of the vehicle of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 44 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the vehicle of FIGURE 1 showing a modifiedcontrol mechanism; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 66 ofFIGURE 5.

Referring again to the drawings, the toy vehicle constituting apresently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated10, includes a hollow body portion 12 having a wall means 14 shaped toform a hood 16, a cockpit 18 and a tail section 20.

The body 12 has an open bottom 22 defined by an encompassing flange 24which merges into a shoulder 26. The open bottom 22 may be closed by abottom wall 28 which is preferably sealed to the shoulder 26 forming awater-tight chamber 30 inside the body portion 12. The chamber 30imparts buoyancy to the vehicle 10 so that it will float, if desired.

The rear portion of the flange 24 has diametrically opposed notches 32in which a rear axle 34 is mounted. A rear wheel 36 is rotatably mountedon each end of the axle 34.

The front portion of the flange 24 is provided with diametricallyopposed arcuate slots 38 in which the ends 39 of a bolster 40 aremounted. The bolster 40 includes a somewhat triangularly shaped portion42 which is pro vided with an aperture 44 in its apex 46. The bolster 40is pivotally connected to the body 12 by a pin 48 which engages theaperture 44 and is retained on the pin 48 by a nut means 50 havingresilient fingers 52 which grip the pin 48. The pin 48 is preferablyformed integrally with the bottom wall 28 so that it will form aliquidtight connection therewith. A front wheel 54 is rotatably mountedon each end 39 of bolster 40.

The vehicle 10 is propelled and steered by hydraulic jet means whichincludes a nozzle or jet 56 formed in a block 58. The block 58 isaffixed to the bolster 40 adjacent each front wheeel 54 in such a mannerthat the nozzle 56 points rearwardly and downwardly with respect to thevehicle 10. Hydraulic fluid, such as water, may be supplied to the jets56 through flexible conduits 60 which are connected to the jets 56 bynipples 62. Flow of fluid through each of the flexible conduits 60 iscontrolled by a valve 62' which is mounted in each conduit 60intermediate its ends. Each valve 62' may be operated by a push button64 in such a manner that flow of fluid through an associated conduit 60is immediately interrupted by depressing the button 64. The conduits 60may be connected to a suitable supply of water under pressure up streamof the vehicle 10 by connecting them to a garden hose, not shown. Theconduits 60 preferably are brought upwardly through a hollow boss 65provided in cockpit 18 and are held above the vehicle 10 by a supportrod 66. It has been found that such an arrangement makes the vehicle 10easier to handle than would be the case if the conduits 60 were broughtout through the tail section 20 by reducing their drag resistanceagainst the ground as the vehicle moves and by enabling the vehicle topivot freely in a turn.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6, a vehicle 10a is shown which isidentical with the vehicle 10 except that expanding pressure chambermeans in the form of flexible bladders 68 are connected in the flexibleconduits 60 adjacent the bolster 40a. The bladders 68 are caged within arecess 70 in bottom wall 28a by a pivot arm 72 on bolster 40, dependingmembers 74 on bottom wall 28a and a cover 76. When pressure isreduced-on one nozzle 56, it is also reduced in an associated bladder 68so that it collapses. The other bladder 68 expands to exert a forceagainst pivot arm 72. Thus, two turning moments act to turn the bolster40a, i.e., one by the pressurized nozzle 56 and one by the pressurizedbladder 68.

Referring again to FIGURES l4, in use, the flexible conduit 66 may beconnected to a garden hose, not shown, upstream of the vehicle 10. Withboth valves 62 open, Water may be admitted to the nozzles 56 so that thewater will issue from the nozzles 56 in the form of a jet which propelsthe vehicle 10 forwardly. Should it be desired to turn the vehicle 10 tothe left, as viewed in FIGURE 1, the button 64 associated with the leftfront wheel 54 of vehicle 10 may be depressed interrupting the flow ofwater to its associated nozzle 56. Water issuing from the other nozzle56 will create a moment about the pin 48 through a lever arm defined bythe length of the bolster 40 from the pin 48 to the pressurized nozzle56. The vehicle 10 may be turned to the right in like manner bydepressing the button 64 associated with the right front wheel 54.

The modification shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 is useful in turning thevehicle 143a when it is stationary or at slow speeds Where greaterturning forces are required than when the vehicle 10a is moving atordinary speed.

Of course, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that theexpanding pressure chamber means may be employed as the sole steeringmeans. In this event, the nozzles 56 do not necessarily have to bemounted on the bolster 40a.

Since the vehicles 10 and 10a are buoyant, they function as amphibiousvehicles so that they may be driven from a roadway into a body of water.Jets issuing from the nozzle 56 propel the vehicles through the waterand the vehicles may be turned within a body of water in the same mannerthat they are steered on land by actuating the valves 62.

While the particular toy vehicles herein shown and described in detailare fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantageshereinbefore stated, it is to understood that they are merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the details of construction ordesign herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a wheeled vehicle having bolster means and apivot pin rotatably connecting said bolster means to said vehicle,remote control means comprising:

thrust producing means connected to said bolster means, said thrustproducing means being energizable in a first manner to impart forwardmotion to 'said vehicle and in a second manner to rotate said bolstermeans about said pivot pin to steer said vehicle;

conduit means for connecting said thrust producing means to a medium forenergizing said thrust producing means; and

control means connected to said conduit means for controlling theenergization of said thrust producing means.

2. The combination of claim 1 including buoyant body means connected tosaid bolster means for floating said vehicle in a body of water.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said medium comprises a hydraulicfluid under pressure.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said thrust producing meansincludes nozzle means and said medium comprises a hydraulic fluid underpressure which is adapted to issue from said nozzle means in the form ofa ramjet.

5. A wheeled vehicle comprising:

a body portion;

bolster means rotatably connected to said body portion by a pivot pinengaging said bolster means intermediate its ends;

Wheel means mounted on each end of said bolster means for facilitatingtravel of said vehicle on a suitable surface;

nozzle means connected to said bolster means on opposite sides of saidpivot pin in such a manner that unequal pressurization of said nozzlemeans creates a moment about said pivot pin While equal pressurizationthereof propels said vehicle in an approximate straight course;

conduit means connected to said nozzle means for supplying fluid underpressure thereto; and

valve means connected to said conduit means for controlling the flow offluid therethrough.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said body portion includes a closedbottom wall whereby said Vehicle is adapted to float on a body of water.

7. A toy vehicle comprising:

a body portion;

rear Wheels rotatably mounted on said body portion;

front wheel means rotatably mounted on bolster means;

a pivot pin swingably connecting said bolster means to said bodyportion;

hydraulic thrust producing means connected to said bolster means in sucha manner that total energization of said thrust producing means impartsforward motion to said vehicle and partial energization of said thrustproducing means creates a moment about said pivot pin to steer saidvehicle;

conduit means connected to said thrust producing means for connectingsaid thrust producing means to a hydraulic fluid under pressure; and

valve means connected to said conduit means for controlling the flow offluid therethrough.

8. A toy vehicle as stated in claim 7, including a pivot arm extendingfrom said bolster means along said body portion and expanding pressurechamber means mounted on said body portion for exerting a force on saidpivot arm to rotate said bolster means about said pivot pin, saidexpanding pressure chamber means being connected to said conduit means,whereby said chamber means may be pressurized by said fluid.

9. An amphibious toy vehicle comprising:

a buoyant body portion;

rear wheels rotatably mounted on said body portion;

front wheel means rotatably mounted on bolster means;

a pivot pin swingably connecting said bolster means to said bodyportion;

hydraulic thrust producing means connected to said bolster means in sucha manner .that total energization of said thrust producing means impartsforward motion to said vehicle and partial energization of said thrustproducing means creates a moment about said pivot pin to steer saidvehicle;

conduit means connected to said thrust producing means for connectingsaid thrust producing means to a hydraulic fluid under pressure; and

valve means connected to said conduit means for controlling the flow offluid therethrough.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1954 Bunting46206 7/1961 Blanchard 46-95

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WHEELED VEHICLE HAVING BOLSTER MEANS AND APIVOT PIN ROTATABLY CONNECTING SAID BOLSTER MEANS TO SAID VEHICLE,REMOTE CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING: THRUST PRODUCING MEANS CONNECTED TOSAID BOLSTER MEANS, SAID THRUST PRODUCING MEANS BEING ENERGIZABLE IN AFIRST MANNER TO IMPART FORWARD MOTION TO SAID VEHICLE AND IN A SECONDMANNER TO ROTATE SAID BOLSTER MEANS ABOUT SAID PIVOT PIN TO STEER SAIDVEHICLE; CONDUIT MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID THRUST PRODUCING MEANS TO AMEDIUM FOR ENERGIZING SAID THRUST PRODUCING MEANS; AND CONTROL MEANSCONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ENERGIZATION OF SAIDTHRUST PRODUCING MEANS.